Experience of early motherhood during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Germany: a single-centre before and after comparison

ObjectivesThe placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is a common neurosurgical operation that carries great benefit in acute hydrocephalus but is not without risk. In our centre, bolt EVDs (B-EVD) are being placed in favour of tunnelled EVDs (T-EVD). The former has allowed for urgent CSF diversion in ITU. We compared EVD survival and complication rates between the two types of EVDs.DesignSingle centre prospective case-cohort.SubjectsTwenty-five patients with B-EVDs and thirty-four patients with T-EVDs.MethodsClinical notes and radiographic reports were collected before and after the placement of EVDs for patients in ITU between January 2017 and June 2018.ResultsFourteen of the 25 B-EVDs were placed on ITU, of which 2 were under stealth guidance. All 34 T-EVDs were placed in theatre. Mean time to CSF access after decision for diversion was 134 min in the B-EVD group and 227 min in the T-EVD group (p<0.05). Mean survival was 35 days for B-EVDs and 29 days for T-EVDs (p<0.05). Eight T-EVDs went onto be replaced as B-EVDs due to retraction or infection. Complications including infection, detachment or retraction were higher in the T-EVD group at 32% compared to 20% in the B-EVD group.ConclusionsBolt EVDs have a lower frequency of complications and higher survival compared to tunnelled EVDs. Since B-EVDs require fewer resources they can be placed faster and on ITU.

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Evaluating short term efficacy of educative support in a cardiovascular rehabilitation using the MICRO-Q test: a single centre experience

Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease ◽

10.4081/monaldi.2013.82 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 80 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Katia Rinero ◽

Marzia Testa ◽

Paola Vallauri ◽

Sonia Garnero ◽

Mauro Feola

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Single Centre ◽

Short Term ◽

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation ◽

Single Centre Experience ◽

Before And After ◽

Educational Meetings

Object of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multiprofessional meetings in order to improve patients’ knowledge about cardiovascular diseases, risk factors and correct lifestyle in a Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Department. Methods: from November 2011 to June 2012 two MICRO-Q questionnaires were given to the Fossano Cardiovascular Rehabilitation’s patients before and after the educational meetings to test their improvement after having followed educational meetings. Results: 73 patients have answered the questionnaires (57 males, mean age 68,5 ±11.73ys). From these data emerged a significant improvement of knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors (75,34% vs 91,78%; p=0,01), smoke (79,45% vs 93,15%; p=0,03), stress (76,71% vs 91,78; p=0,023), diet (84,93% vs 97,26%; p=0,02), physical activity (63,01% vs 84,93%; p=0,005) and right things to do in case of chest pain (34,25% vs 52,05%; p=0,04). Conclusions: educational meetings had an important role in improve patients’ knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors, correct lifestyle and diet. Moreover MICRO-Q questionnaires demonstrated to be useful tools in order to improve the educational meetings according to the real needs of our patients.

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Comparison of the usefulness of a targeted temperature management protocol before and after modification: A single-centre retrospective study

Resuscitation ◽

10.1016/j.resuscitation.2019.06.227 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 142 ◽

pp. e94

Author(s):

Kanae Ochiai ◽

Yasuhiro Otomo

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Targeted Temperature Management ◽

Temperature Management ◽

Single Centre ◽

Management Protocol ◽

Before And After

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Symptom load and individual symptoms before and after repair of parastomal hernia: a prospective single centre study

Colorectal Disease ◽

10.1111/codi.13403 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 200-207 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M. Krogsgaard ◽

B. Pilsgaard ◽

T. B. Borglit ◽

J. Bentzen ◽

L. Balleby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parastomal Hernia ◽

Single Centre ◽

Centre Study ◽

Before And After ◽

Symptom Load ◽

Single Centre Study

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The Maternity Experience of New Zealand Samoan First-time Mothers

10.26686/wgtn.17131826.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Marianna Churchward

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Intergenerational Relationships ◽

Embodied Experience ◽

Theoretical Frameworks ◽

Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽

Early Motherhood ◽

First Time Mothers ◽

Before And After ◽

First Time

<p>Motherhood is a life-changing event. It is a significant milestone for a woman. This thesis explores the concept of motherhood from the perspectives of Samoan first-time mothers living in New Zealand. The thesis traces their experiences from conception, pregnancy and childbirth through to early motherhood. Their narratives are the focus of the research and are complemented by the viewpoints from some of their own mothers, and maternity health professionals. The overarching question, ‘What are the experiences of a group of first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers before and after birth?’ was framed from a strengths-based approach and draws on work which defines a strength-based approach to resilience as research that changed traditional deficit perspectives. Rather than focusing on how individuals or families have failed or struggled, emphasis is directed to how they can succeed or how they can manage (Walsh, 2006). Interviews were conducted in Wellington and Auckland with 11 first-time Samoan mothers prior to childbirth and follow-up interviews with nine of these women within 12 months of the birth of their child. Five Samoan grandmothers, i.e. mothers of these first-time mothers, five midwives and five Plunket nurses were also interviewed. Four sites of analysis were examined – the embodied experience of conception and pregnancy; the process of labour and childbirth; the new norm of early motherhood, and interpersonal relationships and encounters. Analysis was conducted through the overarching lens of the Samoan concept of the vā (Wendt, 1999), the theoretical frameworks of ‘negotiated spaces’ (Mila-Schaaf and Hudson, 2009) and sophisticated mediation (Churchward, 2011). It was found that the first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers engaged in a complex and, at times, contradictory process of seeking support during their transition to motherhood. They demonstrated resilience and their skill as sophisticated mediators. The women depended on relationships, some biological and some not, that were reliable and sustainable and the interaction and care that the relationship offered. Intergenerational relationships were important to these first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers, particularly ones they had with their own mother, or someone close to them, as it was pivotal in the way in which they constructed their maternity experience.</p>

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Effectiveness and safety of pidotimod in recurrent respiratory infections in children: a pilot study

International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ◽

10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20193715 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. 2012 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T. C. Acharya ◽

Kundan Nivangune ◽

Snehal Muchhala ◽

Rishi Jain

Keyword(s):

Prospective Observational Study ◽

Standard Treatment ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Single Centre ◽

The Past ◽

Recurrent Respiratory Infections ◽

Before And After ◽

Antibiotic Courses

Background: Recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) are common in children especially in age 1 to 6 years. Pidotimod, an immunostimulant has been found to lower the recurrences of RRIs and improve the quality of life. The Objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of pidotimod in children with recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs).Methods: In this single-centre, prospective, observational study, children aged 2 to 15 years diagnosed with RRIs were included. RRIs were defined as occurrence of 3 or more episodes of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) or more than 15 days of respiratory symptoms in the past 3 months. These children were treated with pidotimod in addition to standard care treatment. Treatment duration was two months and the follow-up continued for three months. Number of RRIs and severity of RRIs, antibiotic courses and rate of hospitalization before and after treatment were compared.Results: In total 25 children included in the study, mean age was 7.34±3.63 years. Among them, 68% were males. After treatment with pidotimod, there was significant reduction in mean number of ARI episodes (3.84±0.85 at baseline to 0.48±0.51 at follow-up, p<0.0001). Also, there was significant reduction in the duration of acute infectious episodes (p<0.0001), need of antibiotic courses (p<0.0001) and rates of hospitalization (p<0.0001). No safety concerns were identified and pidotimod was well tolerated.Conclusions: Addition of pidotimod to the standard treatment in children with RRIs significantly reduces the recurrence, duration of repeat infectious episodes, need of antibiotic treatments and future rates of hospitalizations. These findings support previous data.

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